Automatic racker board finger pivot system

ABSTRACT

Pipe racker apparatus for a well drilling unit including a pipe racking finger board having finger latch mechanisms which are locally operative to pivot individual latches in response to an actuator extending in discrete movements from a pipe racker head; the finger latch mechanisms may be automatically cycled in association with the actuator as the racker head engages and disengages pipe.

United States Patent [191 Kelly et al.

AUTOMATIC RACKER BOARD FINGER PIVOT SYSTEM Inventors: Robert R. Kelly,Hoffman Estates;

James R. Tomashek, Wood Dale, both of Ill.

Assignee: Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago,

Filed: Jan. 5, 1973 Appl. No.: 321,488

Related US. Application Data Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 232,376,March 7, 1972, abandoned.

US. Cl. 214/2.5, 175/85 Int. Cl. E2lb 19/00 Field of Search 214/1 P,2.5; 175/85;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1937 Nash 214/25 X [4 1 Mar.26, 1974 2,162,653 6/1939 Umphres 214/2.5 2,628,725 2/1953 Stone 214/253,501,017 3/1970 Johnson 214/2.5 X

Primary Examiner-Frank E. Werner Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Donald W.Banner [57] ABSTRACT Pipe racker apparatus for a well drilling unitincluding a pipe racking finger board having finger latch mechanismswhich are locally operative to pivot individual latches in response toan actuator extending in discrete movements from a pipe racker head; thefinger latch mechanisms may be automatically cycled in association withthe actuator as the ra'cker head engages and disengages pipe.

26 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures Pmmmmzsm 7 3799.364

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AUTOMATIC RACKER BOARD FINGER PIVOT SYSTEM REFERENCE TO RELATEDAPPLICATIONS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is directedgenerally to the field of oil well drilling and related equipment asadapted to offshore drilling. In such drilling, stable platforms areused in shallow water but'floating platforms are desirable or necessaryfor deep water drilling.

Such floating platforms generally comprise a barge or ship on' which ismounted the rig or derrick. These floating platforms and ships tend tobe unstable, with respect to the subsurface earth formation, making itextremely difficult to mount the equipment and perform the operations-ina manner which will most efficiently permit drilling.

Particularly, for the purpose of this disclosure, the pipe handlingequipment must be devised so that the pipe may be positioned quickly andaccurately for placing in the well hole, or may be stacked or racked insuch a manner that it cannot yield to the forces created by the roll orpitch of a vessel or by the force of wind or other forces which normallymight be no problem in drilling from a stable platform.

In handling the pipe, the sections are ordinarily cou pled into what istermed stands made up of several sections for handling purposes. It iscustomary to work a stand of three sections of pipe or drill collars,which stand of pipe must be from time to time racked in position awayfrom the center of the derrick so as to be out of the way of thedrilling operations, but readily available to be picked up and loweredinto the hole or well.

Heretofore, various methods have been devised for placing'the pipe overthe well opening or for racking the stands. Particular attention hasbeengiven to the question of locking the pipe against displacement. Previousmethods have most often consisted of laying the stands down inhorizontal fashion for racking. How ever, some attempts have been madeto rack the stands of pipe vertically, especially where the drillingplatform is stable. Reference is .made to U.S. Pats. No. 2,507,040, No.2,619,234, No. 2,628,725 and No. 2,703,178, as showing some of theactivity in providing equipment for vertical racking. More recentdevelopment is reflected in U.S. Pats. No. 3,498,586, No. 3,501,017, No.3,503,460, No. 3,550,466, No. 3,592,347 No. 3,561,811 and No. 3,615,027.There are other examples.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION substantial portion of the components which areproven and employed with such present apparatus.

The foregoing and other provisions and advantages are provided byvertical well pipe racking apparatus having a finger board withhorizontally disposed fingers spaced apart to accommodate well piperacked vertically between the fingers, a racker head means forsupporting a pipe and guiding the pipe to an appropriate space betweenthe racker fingers, and a pipe retaining latch means mounted in pivotalrelation to each of the fingers and movable between a vertical positionleaving the space clear between the fingers and a horizontal positionextending laterally between the fingers to retain said pipe as beingretained between said fingers adjacent the latch means when so extended.The improvement comprises pivoting means associated with each of thelatch means to selectively pivot the latch means through a cycle betweenthe vertical position and the horizontal position responsive to discreteapplications of external mechanical force, and an actuator means mountedwith the racker head to apply discrete mechanical forces to the pivotingmeans to selectively pivot the latch means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of adrilling derrick assembly adapted for installation on a ship or bargeand illustrating an installation of apparatus utilizing the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating some of the racking equipment formingthe subject matter of the present invention, the view being fragmentaryand taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale showing detailsof the finger board and racking equipment of FIG. 2 as taken along theline 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary partly sectional elevational viewtaken on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating a portion of the fingerboard with a drill pipe in place therein;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of the fluid pressure actuatingsystem for the actuating and latch pivoting mechanisms best shown inFIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates a mechanical alternate of the latch pivotingmechanism shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a partial plan view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 10 withparts broken away to illustrate details;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a sectional FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on line 14l4 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 is an exploded partial sectional view of a part of the mechanismillustrated in FIGS. 11, 12, 13 and '14;

FIG. 16 is a partial enlarged sectional view of a portion of themechanism illustrated in FIGS. 11, 12, '13 and 14;

view taken on line 13-13 of FIGS. 17 and 18 are enlarged views ofportions of the mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 11, l2, l3 and 14;

FIG. 19, is a sectional view taken on lines 1919 of FIG. 16;

FIGS. 20 and 21 are bottom views of the parts illustrated in FIGS. 17and 18 respectively;

FIG. 22 is a partial developed view of the action of the partsillustrated in FIGS. 16, 17 and 18; and

FIG. 23 is a schematic hydraulic circuit for operating the embodiment ofFIGS. to 22.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to FIG. 1, a welldrilling derrick 10 is shown somewhat schematically, sway braces, guywires and similar structural members being omitted to enable workingapparatus to be shown more clearly. The derrick has generally verticalcorner posts supported on a drilling platform 12 through base members asshown. A water table near the top of the derrick (not shown) carries theusual crown block which is aligned with the vertical center line of thederrick. Suspended from the crown block by cable is a travelling blocksuspending a hookstructure 14. Elevator links are swingably suspendedfrom ears on the hook structure, and the links have a pipe elevatorswingably attached as shown.

The general reference numeral 16 denotes apparatus for positioning andguiding the block and hook structure through a stabilizing device (notshown).

A stand 18 of drill pipe is shown as being supported by pipe-handlingequipment including rackers and 22. Other stands 18' of drill pipe and astand 26 of drill collars are shown at rest in a pipe rack having afinger board 28, a base 30, and an intermediate rack member 32. Theupper end of the string of drill pipe 24 is shown projecting above thepower tongs 34, the pipe slips 36, and the rotary table 38. Projectingoutwardly as shown from the derrick and positioned under the racker 20is a horizontal stage upon which an operator may stand to adjust orrepair the racker.

Associated with the racker 20 is a cable 40 actuated by a fluid-poweredpiston-and-cylinder motor 42 for raising and lowering a component of theracker 22.

Referring next primarily to FIG. 2, the finger board 28 is shown asbeing in two sections; one 46, located on the right-hand (shown asupper) side, and the other,

44, located on the left-hand (shown as lower) side of central opening 48extending laterally with respect to the center of the well between therack sections 46 and 44. It is noted that this finger board assembly 28is positioned at a considerable height in the derrick 10, for example,approximately 90 feet above the platform 12.

The finger board assembly 28 has the side rail 50 extending across andforming what may be termed the rear of the combined finger boardassembly. Extending across the outer or closed side of the left-handfinger board section 44 is what may be termed an end rail 52, andextending across the left-hand outer end of the finger board section(not shown) is another end rail. Extending inwardly from the endrail 52is a front rail 54. Another front rail 56 is similarly extending fromfinger board section 46 as shown. The rails comprise the framework forsupporting the finger board sections, and are sometimes referred to as awalkaround. The front rails 54 and 56 have appropriate bracing as shown.

Mounted on the end rail 50 are the drill pipe fingers 58 as shown andthe drill collar finger 60. These fingers are mounted on their left-handends to extend horizontally across the derrick, and are spaced apartlaterally from the front rail 54 to the drill collar finger 60 adistance sufficient to accommodate the size of drill pipe to be rackedtherein. The drill collar finger 60 is spaced from the side rail 50 adistance sufficient to accomodate the diameter of the drill collar to beracked therein. Appropriate details of these racking fingers will bedescribed later. The space between the front rail 54 and the adjacentfinger 58 is here shown at 62. This space extends from the outer end ofthe finger to the base of the finger near the rail 52 and has sufficienthorizontal depth to accommodate a selected number of stands or joints ofpipe, in the illustration here shown as twelve. The same holds true withrespect to the spaces defined between the remaining fingers 58. Thespace 64 between the drill collar finger 60 and the side rail 50 isgreater than that between the other fingers, but the depth of the spaceis shown as being such that it will accommodate six stands or joints ofdrill collars. The left-hand end of the'space is shown-as being closedby a gusset 66 which is preferably attached between the side rail andthe drill collar finger and extends horizontally outward a distance toprovide a support and reinforcement for the assembly and a stop for thefirst drill collar 26 racked therein.

Each of the fingers 58 has a series of pipe retaining latches 68 whichare spaced apart a sufficient distance to accommodate the diameter of adrill pipe, and extending from end to end of the fingers, there beingshown in the illustration twelve such latches for each finger. The firsteight latches on each finger are indicated in their opened or raisedposition, for example, and the remaining four latches are shown in theclosed position. In the opened position, pipe may be moved freely intoand out of the openings between the fingers.

Similarly, the side rail 50 has a series of drill collar latches 70 atspaced intervals along the opening 64. One of the drill collar latches70 is indicated closed to retain a stand of drill collar 26, and openedover the remainder of space 64 for a purpose similar to the opened andclosed latches 68 of the racking fingers 58 above described.

The right-hand racking board section 46 is provided with drill pipefingers to accommodate drill pipe, and with a drill collar finger asdescribed above, and functions in the same manner.

The derrickman (shown at 72 in FIG. 1) has a seat and control console 74preferably centered between right and left-hand racking sections andfacing toward the center of the drilling derrick 10. This console hasappropriate toggle switches or levers schematically illustrated thereon.

There is also illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a racker arm 76 having aracker head 78 with pipe-gripping means 80, herein referred to as a clawholding pipe 18. A latch pivoting actuating means or ram 82 is shownmounted with and extending downwardly from head 78. Ram 82 is laterdescribed with reference to FIGS. 4, 6 and 8. The racker arm 76 ismounted in the carriage of upper racker 20 and has means (not shown) forextending and retracting the arm longitudinally. In addition, thecarriage is mounted in a horizontal track means extending horizontallyalong the side of the derrick, and has means under control of thederrickman for moving the carriage laterally in the track means fromside to side of the derrick. Such racker arms and carriage means areactuated by the hydraulic motors under control of a'four-way valveincluded in the derrickmans console. The console 74 also has valve meansfor manipulating the racker head and claw for grasping and releasing thepipe 18. The details of the carriage, racker arm, racker head and clawmeans are shown schematically to indicate the general arrangement forthis invention and are more specifically described in US. Pat. No.3,561,811, specifically incorporated herein by reference.

Referring again briefly to FIG. 1, it is apparent that a similarlyconstructed intermediate racker arm and carriage assembly 22 is undercontrol of a floorman 84 (see FIG. 1). The racker head (not numbered) ofracker 22 differs as being shown as vertically movable by cable 40 andcylinder '42, with respect to the racker arm of the pipe racker 20. Thisenables the operator to grasp a stand of pipe and raise and guide itwhen it has been disconnected from the pipe in the rotary table 38. Asimilar console without the switches to control the latches is operatedby the floorman 84 to operate the intermediate racker 22. Referring nextprimarily to the enlarged fragmentary views illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4and 5, there are here shown details of the racking fingers, latchingmeans andlatch actuating or pivoting means 85. FIG. 3 illustratesprimarily a portion of the left-hand racker section 44 as taken alongthe line 33 of FIG. 2.

As evident from FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the latches 68 are mounted intrunnions 86 for pivoting movement between a horizontal and verticalposition. In FIG. 3, for example, the latch 68 on the left is shown inopened position in which position it will be vertical with respect tothe top of the finger 58 and the latch on the right is shown inhorizontal or latched position. The latches are all equipped with aclevis' assembly 88 at the rear thereof and which extends upwardly fromthe surface of the latch and receives the end of the plunger of thehydraulic cylinder 90 in pivoted relation. Movement of the plunger, inwhat may be termed a crank arm action, under the influence of thehydraulic cylinder 90 serves to movethe plunger outward from thecylinder, and push the latch to a horizontal position where it will beretained by the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder. Retraction of theplunger into the cylinder 90 by reversal of the hydraulic pressuretherein will pull the clevis backward and downward, resulting in thelatch 68 being pivoted to a vertical position. Here again it will beretained in vertical position by the fluid pressure in the cylinderwhich acts to retract the plunger or hold it retracted. Mounted in thefinger 58, as in the case of all of the fingers, is a series of thehydraulic cylinders 90 extending vertically and mounted for rotarymovement on a bracket in thewell-known manner. Hydraulic lines to eachend of the cylinder are provided and as here illustrated, are thehydraulic line to the upper end of the cylinder and the hydraulic lineto the lower end of the cylinder, the lines being connected as laterdescribed.

As shown in FIG. 3 (and reference may also be had to FIG. 2), a metalhousing 92 is attached to the top of the side rail 50, one on each sideof the derrickman 72, and the mechanism for manipulating the drillcollar latches 70 is located in these housings. The drill collar latchhas an upwardly extending clevis 88 between which is joumaled the end ofthe plunger of the hydraulic cylinder 90. The cylinder is rotatablyjoumaled to the back of the housing as shown. Hydraulic lines lead intothe respective ends of the plunger and are connected into an actuatingvalve as later described. This arrangement is similar in its operationto the arrangement for operating the latches previously described foropening and closing the drill collar compartments, except that theplunger acts in a more or less horizontal position. The drill collarlatch 70 is shown in its open position by dotted lines where it extendsthrough a slot in the top forward edge of the housing 92.

Referring briefly to FIG. 2, there is indicated as visible between thefingers of the racking board, upstanding pipe bases 94 which comprise ahemispherical seat located on the derrick base on which the lower end ofthe stand of drill collars is placed to rack the stand properly aligned.As shown, these are directly below the racker sections and the stand ofpipe would be positioned as vertical in such arrangement. However, as apractical matter, these base rackers may be offset from the verticaltoward the adjacent sides of the derrick, so that the bottom of thestand of drill pipe or drill collar will be moved back from the centerlines of the derrick to allow more room around the well hole. Thus, thestands of pipe and the stands of drill collar will slant inwardly attheir tops toward both center lines of the derrick, placing additionalweight on the fingers and latches.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 4 and 6, the extension andretraction chambers of each cylinder 90 are respectively connectedthrough conduits 96 and 98 into a normally closed manually actuatedspring return two-way valve 100 which prevents fluid flow into or out ofeither chamber when in closed position and which permits fluid flow intoone chamber and out of the other chamber of cylinder 90 when normallyactuated into opened position by depression of the plunger face 102 ofthe ram 82 as apparent in FIGS. 4 and 6 taken in reference to FIG. 1.Valve 100 is respectively connected through conduits104 and 106 intofluid pressure supply and exhaust conduits 108 and 110. Manifoldconduits 108 and 110 are similarly connected through valves 100 into allthe cylinders 90 previously shown and described.

Referring particularly to FIG. 6, manifold conduits 108 and 110 areconnected into the outlets of a solenoid actuated two-position four-wayvalve 1 12 which is respectively switched into one position or the otherby solenoids or other appropriate actuators which may be remotelyenergized. The inlets of valve 1 12 are respectively connected. throughconduits 114 and 116 to a source of fluid pressure 118 and to a sumpreturn as shown. When valve 112 is in a first position and valve 102 isheld open by plunger face 102, for example, fluid pressure is introducedthrough conduits 114, 108, 104 and 96 into the retraction chamber ofcylinder 96 and permits the exhaust of fluids from the extension chamberof cylinder 90 through conduits 98, 106, 110 and 116 to the sump return.With the valve 112 in the first position and a designated valve 100 heldopen by ram 82, a designated cylinder 90 will retract and move adesignated latch 68 or latch 70 to the vertical open position. The rammay be moved about by movement of racker head 78 to a position toactuate any valve 100 while valve 112 is in such first position.

When the valve 112 is switched to its second position, the fluidpressure and exhaust as available to each vale 100 is reversed to causefluid pressure to extend a respective cylinder 90 and move a designatedlatch 68 or 70 into a horizontal closed position.

As also shown in FIG. 2, the extension and retraction chambers of thelatch pivoting ram 82 are connected through conduits 120 and 122 intothe outlets of a manually or remotely actuated spring returntwo-position four-way valve 124. The inlets of valve 124 arerespectively connected through a conduit 126 to pressure source 118 andthrough a conduit 128 to the return sump. The desirable connections aresuch that actuation of valve 124 causes extension of ram 82 and plungerface 102 to engage and open a designated valve 100, causing therespective cylinder 90 to move the respective latch 68 or 70 to movefrom open to closed, or vice versa, depending on the position in whichvalve 112 is placed.

When valve 124 is released, the fluid flow through conduits 120 and 122is reversed, causing ram 82 and plunger face 102 to retract to a restposition and allowing the respective valve 100 to shut off fluid flowinto or out of cylinder 90.

Reference is now made to FIGS. to 23, inclusive, which illustrateanother embodiment of the invention. Where possible, the same referencenumbers are used to refer to like parts.

As illustrated, the latches 68 in this embodiment are mounted intrunnions 160 for pivoting movement between a horizontal and verticalposition. In FIG. 11, for example, the latch 68 at the right is shown inopened position in which position it is vertical with respect to the topof the finger 58, the latch 68 in the center is in an intermediateposition while the latch 68 at the left is shown in horizontal orlatched position. The latches 68 are all equipped with a clevis 162 atthe bottom thereof which is pivoted at 164 to an arm 166 which in turnis pivoted at 168 to a push rod 170 through a spacer 172. Movements ofthe push rod 170, in a manner to be described, causes the latch 68 tomove between its vertical, unlatched position and its horizontal,latched position.

The push rod 170 extends vertically upwardly through an opening 176 inthe finger 58 and receives a rotating cam 178 with a toothed periphery180, the teeth 182 of which have beveled tops 184. The push rod 170 isurged upwardly by means of a surrounding compression spring 186 which isdisposed between a base 188 attached to the finger 58 and a stop 190attached to the push rod. The base 188 is externally threaded at 192 andhas a cylindrical housing 194 screwed thereto. The housing 194 is formedwith a plurality of slots 196 equal in number to the teeth 182 of therotating cam 178 and of equal diameter and also with a plurality ofslots 198 of less diameter (see FIG. 19).

The slots 196 and 198 are separated by cam means terminating in beveledcam shoulders 200 which will, as will be explained, engage the beveledtops 184 of teeth 182 of the rotating cam 178. v

Axially slidable in the housing 194 is a plunger 202 having anon-rotatable driving cam 204 attached or made integral therewith. Thedriving cam 204 has a saw toothed bottom 206 which engages the teeth 182of the rotating cam 178. The driving cam has guides 208 around itsperiphery to register with the slots 196 and 1980f the housing 194. Theplunger 202 is fixed to a cylindrical sleeve 209 which is slidable overthe housing 194.

METHOD OF OPERATION The operation of this device will be described inconnection with the showing of a semi-automated arrangement, it beingunderstood that the apparatus can be incorporated into a more nearlyfully automated system.

Ordinarily, the drill pipe 18 will be pulled from the well (assumingthat the operation calls for removing the pipe from the hole) throughthe rotary table 38 and tong 34 by means of the hook structure 14, untilthree sections of pipe have cleared the slip 36 and hook 14 is in itsuppermost position. The pipe will be locked in the rotary table 38 bythe slip 36 against downward movement, and the elevator will be removedfrom the pipe while it is being grasped by the racker head 78 on the topracker arm 76 for steadying the upper portion of the pipe. Thisoperation is under control of the derrickman 72.

At the .same time, the intermediate head on the racker 22 will be in itslowermost position and will grasp the lower section of pipe at its upsetor collar, as the case may be. While this is being done, the tong 34will be operated to spin out and disconnect the stand 18 from the pipe24 and the floorman 84 will actuate the hydraulic cylinder 42 to movethe racker head on the intermediate racker arm 22 to its upper position.This will lift the stand of pipe 18 clear of the pipe 24 to which it waspreviously connected.

Racker 22 is then operated by floorman 84 to position the lower end ofpipe stand 18 into registry with an appropriate pipe racker member 94mounted on pipe base 30 (FIGS. 1 and 2) while concurrently lowering thestand into position.

While floorman 84 is performing the above described operations, thederrickman 72 is operating racker arm 76 and racker head 78 to move theupper end of pipe stand 18 into an appropriate pipe space 68, say at thelower end of the space between the left front rail 54 and adjacentfinger 58, for example.

At the initiation of the pipe removal and racking operation, all thelatches 68 and will have been previously moved to their vertical openposition, allowing free entry of pipe into any of the spaces 62 and 64.Also, valve 112 will be positioned to cause a designated latch to closewhen the appropriate valve is actuated. Thus, when the pipe stand 18 hasbeen position as described above, latch pivoting ram 102 will be inappropriate position to open valve 100 which actuates the adjacent latch68 to be moved into closed position. Ram 82 is then actuated to closethe adjacent latch 68, the pipe gripping claw is released, and theracker 20 moved out to catch the next stand of pipe as is hoisted intoposition for racking.

The foregoing series of operations is repeated until all the pipe hasbeen removed from the well, appropriately positioned in sequence in thespace 62 and individually retained in position by the individual latches68. The drill collars are subsequently removed in the same fashion andstored in spaces 64.

The above outlined procedure is reversed as the stands of pipe 18 arereturned into the well. The drill 'collar stands 26 (last into the rack)are the first to return as the drill string is run into the well bore.

A mechanical alternate embodiment of a latch actuating or pivoting means85 is illustrated in FIGS. 7-9. The pivoting mechanism as shown mayutilize two hydraulic actuator rams 82 and 82 (only the plungers ofwhich are shown) or, as will later become apparent, the mechanismmayutilize one ram 82 which may be movably mounted to rackerhead 78 in amanner permitting horizontal transverse movement between two positionswith respect to racker head 78 and racker arm 76. For the purpose ofthis description the reference to rams 82 and 82 is intended to identifytwo respective rams or one ram as moved between a first and a secondlateral position.

As shown, the latch 86 is mounted in pivotal relation to finger 58through trunnions 86 as previously described. The latch is shownhorizontally closed to retain pipe in FIG. 8 and vertically open topermit passage of pipe between finger spaces 62 in FIG. 9. A clock typespring 126 is mounted in-biased relation between finger 58 and latch 68in association with trunnion 86 to urge latch 68 into a normally closedposition as shown in FIG. 8. 4

Extending at a suitable angle as shown from trunnion 86 as a portion oflatch 68 is an actuating arm 128. A latch drive pin 130 is mounted fromarm 128 at a right angle with respect to latch 68 and in parallelrelation to the axis of trunnion 86. Drive pin 130 is of sufficientlength to intercept downward movement of ram'82 as best seen in FIGS. 7and 8.

A bracket 132 is mounted to extend below the upper surface of finger 58and support two catch arms 134 and 136 through an arm pivot arrangement138 as shown. Catch arm 134 defines a detent 140 which is adapted toreceive drive pin 130 and thereby retain latch 68 in the closed.position shown in FIG. 8. Catch arm 136 defines'a detent 142 which isalso adapted to receive drive pin 130 toretain latch 68 in the openposition shown in FIG. 9. Catch arm deflection plates 135 and 137 arerespectively mounted in inclined relation on arms 135 and 137 as shownto permit respective deflection of each arm by downward movement of ram82 or 82' as later mentioned.

A springsupport pin 144-extends from arm bracket 132 to retain coilsprings 146 and 148 which are respectively connected in tension to arms134 and 136 as shown to bias and urge both arms toward drive pin 130 atall times.

Assuming latch 68 to be in closed position as shown in FIG. 8,'th'edrive pin 130 is retained in catch detent 140 of arm 134 to lock thelatch closed. At such time arm 136 is urged into contact with pin 130 byspring 148. The latch 68 may be opened by moving ram 82 down to engagedeflection plate 135 and moving detent 140 away from retention of drivepin 130. Further movement of ram 82 engages drive pin 130 and pushes thepin down until detent 142 has been pulled into retaining relation aboutpin 130 by the pull of spring 148 through arm l36. At such time as drivepin 130 is retained by detent 142, latch 68 has been pivoted into theupper locked position shown in FIG. 9 and arm-134 is clear of ram 82'but urged against pin 130 by spring 146. Ram 82' is thereon retracted torest position as shown in FIG.;

As shown in' FIG. 8, the latch 68 is closed by depressing ram 82 againstdeflection plate 137 which deflects arm 136 and detent 142 away fromretention of drive pin 130. Clock spring 126 thereon urges latch 68 intoclosed position with drive pin 130 sliding along spring biased arm 134until detent 140 is reached and moves about the drive pin to retain thesame as initially described and thereby lock latch 68 into the closedposition shown in FIG. 8.

The sliding of pin 130 along arm 134 through its arcuate path abouttrunnion 86 causes flexure of spring 146 and a resulting toggle or snapaction to the arm movement. The flexure of spring 148 as pin 130 slidesalong arm 136 during the opening of latch 68 serves the same purpose.

If two rams 82 and 82 are employed as described then duplicate hydraulicsystems such as described for ram 82 with reference to FIG. '6 may beemployed. Altemately, one ram 82 may be employed and alternately shiftedthrough conventional means (not shown) between an operative positionover deflection plate 135 and over deflection plate 137.

The operation of removing and racking stands of pipe and drill collarswould be the same as previously described with reference to FIGS. 1-6with only such modification as needed to utilize the embodiment ofpivoting means 85 as described with reference to FIGS. 7-9.

The operation of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 23 can bestbe described by references to FIGS. 12, 13, 14 and 23. The hydraulicsystem for actuating the latches 68 comprises a hydraulically operatedplunger 210 of a hydraulic cylinder 212 connected to a source ofpressurized hydraulic fluid by a reversing valve 214. To close a latch68, the valve 214 is operated to apply hydraulic fluid to the plunger210 to cause it to engage the top of the sleeve 209 to move plunger 202and the driving cam 204 downwardly against the force of the compressionspring 186. This causes the teeth 206 on the driving camto partiallyengage the rotating cam teeth 182. The rotating cam 178 moves downwardlyguided by the housing slots 196. At the end of the slots 196, the cam178 is free to rotate, being indexed by the driving cam teeth 206.During this time, the push rod is moved downwardly which causes thelatch 68 to move from vertical to horizontal positions through the pivot168, link 166, pivot 164 and clevis 162. When the hydraulic actuator orplunger 210 is released by reversal of the valve 214, the compressionspring urges the rotating cam 178 and the nonrotating cam as well as theplunger 202 and the sleeve 209 upwardly. However, because the rotatingcam has been indexed, the teeth 182 engage the shoulders 200 and thelatch 68 remains in horizontal position. To release the latch 68, merelyrequires another hydraulic actuator operation, to index the rotating cam178 so that the teeth can then slide in the slots 196, to a position asin FIG. 14.

The foregoing description and drawing will suggest other embodiments andvariations to those skilled in the art, all of which are intended to beincluded in the spirit 'of the invention as herein set forth.

That being claimed is:

'1. Vertical well pipe racking apparatus having a finger board withhorizontally disposed fingers spaced apart to accommodate well piperacked vertically between the fingers, a racker head means forsupporting a pipe and guiding the pipe to an appropriate space betweenthe racker fingers, and a pipe retaining latch means mounted in pivotalrelation to each of the fingers and movable between a vertical positionleaving the space clear between the fingers and a horizontal positionextending laterally between the fingers to retain said pipe adjacentsaid latch means when so extended, the improvement comprising: pivotingmeans associated with each said latch means to selectively pivot saidlatch means through a cycle between said vertical position and saidhorizontal position responsive to discrete applications of externalmechanical force, and actuator means mounted with said racker head toapply discrete mechanical forces to said pivoting means to selectivelypivot said latch means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pivoting means is operativeresponsive to fluid pressure applied through valve means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pivoting means comprises springbiased catch means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said actuator means is actuated byfluid pressure applied through valve means.

5. The apparatus of claim l wherein said pivoting means comprises doubleacting hydraulic cylinder means cycled between two positions by fluidpressure applied through valve means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said valve means comprises latchvalve means responsive to a mechanical force from said actuator meansfor admitting fluid under pressure into a first end of said cylindermeans and exhausting fluid from a second end of said cylinder means andswitch valve means to direct fluid under pressure through said latchvalve respectively into said first end or said second end of saidcylinder means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pivoting means comprises aspring means biasing said latch means toward one of said positions,drive means extending from said latch means to move said latch meansresponsive to force applied from said actuator means, first springbiased catch means to retain said drive means and said latch means inone of said positions and second spring biased catch means to retainsaid drive means and said latch means in the other of said positions,each of said catch means being respectively operable to release saiddrive means responsive to a discrete force applied by said actuatormeans while the other of said catch means operates to retain said drivemeans.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said actuator means comprises tworespectively operated cylinder means.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said actuator means is shiftable toapply force respectively to each of said catch means.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pivoting means comprisesrotatable cam means connected to said latch means and indexed from oneposition in which said latch means is in said vertical position andanother position in which said latch means is in said horizontalposition, and means to index said cam means between said cam positions,said indexing means being actuated by said actuator means.

1 l. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein there is a push rod connected tosaid latch means and operatively associated with said cam means, meansurging said push rod and said cam means in one direction, said actuatormeans urging said cam means and said push rod in the opposite directionto a position wherein said latch means is in said horizontal position,means guiding said cam means and preventing indexing and rotationthereof until said latch means is in said horizontal position, and meanspreventing rotation of said cam means after said indexing to retain saidlatch means in said horizontal position.

12. Vertical well pipe racking apparatus having a finger board withhorizontally disposed fingers spaced apart to accommodate well piperacked vertically between the fingers, a racker head means forsupporting a pipe and guiding the pipe to an appropriate space betweenthe racker fingers, and a pipe retaining latch means mounted in pivotalrelation to each of the fingers and movable between a vertical positionleaving the space clear between the fingers and a horizontal positionextending laterally between the fingers to retain said pipe adjacentsaid latch means when so extended, the improvement comprising:hydraulically actuated pivoting means associated with each said latchmeans to selectively pivot said latch means through a cycle be tweensaid vertical position and said horizontal position responsive todiscrete applications of external mechanical force, and hydraulicactuator means mounted with said racker head to apply discretemechanical forces to said pivoting means to selectively pivot said latchmeans.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said valve means comprises latchvalve means responsive to a mechanical force from said actuator meansfor admitting fluid under pressure into a first end of a cylinder meansand exhausting fluid from a second end of said cylinder means and switchvalve means to direct fluid under pressure through said latch valverespectively into said first end of said second end of said cylindermeans.

14. Vertical well pipe racking apparatus having a finger board withhorizontally disposed fingers spaced apart to accommodate well piperacker vertically between the fingers, a racker head means forsupporting a pipe and guiding the pipe to an appropriate space betweenthe racker fingers, and a pipe retaining latch means mounted in pivotalrelation to each of the fingers and movable between a vertical positionleaving the space clear between the fingers and a horizontal positionextending laterally between the fingers to retain said pipe adjacentsaid latch means when so extended, the improvement comprising:mechanically actuated pivoting means associated with each said latchmeans to selectively pivot said latch means through a cycle be tweensaid vertical position and said horizontal position responsive todiscrete applications of external mechanical force, and actuator meansmounted with said racker head to apply discrete mechanical forces at twolocations on said pivoting means to selectively pivot said latch means.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said pivoting means comprisesspring biased catch means.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said pivoting means comprises aspring means biasing said latch means toward one of said positions,drive means extending from said latch means to move said latch meansresponsive to force applied from said actuator means, first springbiased catch means to retain said drive means and said latch means inone of said positions and second spring biased catch means to retainsaid drive means and said latch means in the other of said positions,each of said catch means being respectively operable to release saiddrive means responsive to a discrete force applied by said actuatormeans while the other of said catch means operates to retain said drivemeans.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said actuator means comprises tworespectively operated cylinder means.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said actuator means is shiftableto apply force respectively to each of said catch means.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said pivoting means comprisesrotatable cam means connected to said latch means and indexed from oneposition in which said latch means is in said vertical position andanother position in which said latch means is in said horizontalposition, and means to index said cam means between said cam positions,said indexing means being actuated by said actuator means.

20. Vertical well pipe racking apparatus having a finger board withhorizontally disposed fingers spaced apart to accommodate well piperacked vertically between the fingers, a racker head means forsupporting a pipe and guiding the pipe to an appropriate space betweenthe racker fingers, and a pipe retaining latch means mounted in pivotalrelation to each of the fingers and movable between a vertical positionleaving the space clear between the fingers and a horizontal positionextending laterally between the fingers to retain said pipe between saidfingers and adjacent said latch means when so extended, the improvementcomprising: mechanically actuated pivoting means associated with eachsaid latch means to selectively pivot said latch means through a cyclebetween said vertical position and said horizontal position responsiveto discrete applications of external mechanical force, and hydraulicactuator means mounted with said racker head to apply discretemechanical forces to said pivoting means to 14 selectively pivot saidlatch means.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said pivoting means comprisesspring biased catch means.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said actuator means is actuated byfluid pressure applied through valve means.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said pivoting means comprises aspring means biasing said latch means toward one of said positions,drive means extending from said latch means to move said latch meansresponsive to force applied from said actuator means, first springbiased catch means to retain said drive means and said latch means inone of said positions and second spring biased catch means to retainsaid drive means and said latch means in the other of said positionseach of said catch means being respectively operable to release saiddrive means responsive to a discrete force applied to said actuatormeans while the other of said catch means operates to retain said drivemeans.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said actuator means comprises tworespectively operated cylinder means.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said actuator means is shiftableto apply force respectively to each of said catch means.

26. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said pivoting means comprisesrotatable cam means connected to said latch means and indexed from oneposition in which said latch means is in said vertical position andanother position in which said latch means is in said horizontalposition, and means to index said cam means between said cam positions,said indexing means being actuated by said actuator means.

UNE'HEE) S'EATES PATENT 0mm @ERTWICATE OF CORRECTION 3,799,364 March 26,1974 Patent No. Dated It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 14, line 18, "to" should read by Signed and sealed this 24th dayof September 1974,

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR, co MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents USCOMM'DC 60376-P69 k [L5, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1 I9690-365-334,

M PO-1050 (10-69)

1. Vertical well pipe racking apparatus having a finger board withhorizontally disposed fingers spaced apart to accommodate well piperacked vertically between the fingers, a racker head means forsupporting a pipe and guiding the pipe to an appropriate space betweenthe racker fingers, and a pipe retaining latch means mounted in pivotalrelation to each of the fingers and movable between a vertical positionleaving the space clear between the fingers and a horizontal positionextending laterally between the fingers to retain said pipe adjacentsaid latch means when so extended, the improvement comprising: pivotingmeans associated with each said latch means to selectively pivot saidlatch means through a cycle between said vertical position and saidhorizontal position responsive to discrete applications of externalmechanical force, and actuator means mounted with said racker head toapply discrete mechanical forces to said pivoting means to selectivelypivot said latch means.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidpivoting means is operative responsive to fluid pressure applied throughvalve means.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pivoting meanscomprises spring biased catch means.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid actuator means is actuated by fluid pressure applied through valvemeans.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pivoting means comprisesdouble acting hydraulic cylinder means cycled between two positions byfluid pressure applied through valve means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5wherein said valve means comprises latch valve means responsive to amechanical force from said actuator means for admitting fluid underpressure into a first end of said cYlinder means and exhausting fluidfrom a second end of said cylinder means and switch valve means todirect fluid under pressure through said latch valve respectively intosaid first end or said second end of said cylinder means.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said pivoting means comprises a springmeans biasing said latch means toward one of said positions, drive meansextending from said latch means to move said latch means responsive toforce applied from said actuator means, first spring biased catch meansto retain said drive means and said latch means in one of said positionsand second spring biased catch means to retain said drive means and saidlatch means in the other of said positions, each of said catch meansbeing respectively operable to release said drive means responsive to adiscrete force applied by said actuator means while the other of saidcatch means operates to retain said drive means.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 7 wherein said actuator means comprises two respectively operatedcylinder means.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said actuator meansis shiftable to apply force respectively to each of said catch means.10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said pivoting means comprisesrotatable cam means connected to said latch means and indexed from oneposition in which said latch means is in said vertical position andanother position in which said latch means is in said horizontalposition, and means to index said cam means between said cam positions,said indexing means being actuated by said actuator means.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 10 wherein there is a push rod connected to saidlatch means and operatively associated with said cam means, means urgingsaid push rod and said cam means in one direction, said actuator meansurging said cam means and said push rod in the opposite direction to aposition wherein said latch means is in said horizontal position, meansguiding said cam means and preventing indexing and rotation thereofuntil said latch means is in said horizontal position, and meanspreventing rotation of said cam means after said indexing to retain saidlatch means in said horizontal position.
 12. Vertical well pipe rackingapparatus having a finger board with horizontally disposed fingersspaced apart to accommodate well pipe racked vertically between thefingers, a racker head means for supporting a pipe and guiding the pipeto an appropriate space between the racker fingers, and a pipe retaininglatch means mounted in pivotal relation to each of the fingers andmovable between a vertical position leaving the space clear between thefingers and a horizontal position extending laterally between thefingers to retain said pipe adjacent said latch means when so extended,the improvement comprising: hydraulically actuated pivoting meansassociated with each said latch means to selectively pivot said latchmeans through a cycle between said vertical position and said horizontalposition responsive to discrete applications of external mechanicalforce, and hydraulic actuator means mounted with said racker head toapply discrete mechanical forces to said pivoting means to selectivelypivot said latch means.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said valvemeans comprises latch valve means responsive to a mechanical force fromsaid actuator means for admitting fluid under pressure into a first endof a cylinder means and exhausting fluid from a second end of saidcylinder means and switch valve means to direct fluid under pressurethrough said latch valve respectively into said first end of said secondend of said cylinder means.
 14. Vertical well pipe racking apparatushaving a finger board with horizontally disposed fingers spaced apart toaccommodate well pipe racker vertically between the fingers, a rackerhead means for supporting a pipe and guiding the pipe to an appropriatespace between the racker fingers, and a pipe retaining latch meansmounted in pivotal relation to each of the fingers and movable between averTical position leaving the space clear between the fingers and ahorizontal position extending laterally between the fingers to retainsaid pipe adjacent said latch means when so extended, the improvementcomprising: mechanically actuated pivoting means associated with eachsaid latch means to selectively pivot said latch means through a cyclebetween said vertical position and said horizontal position responsiveto discrete applications of external mechanical force, and actuatormeans mounted with said racker head to apply discrete mechanical forcesat two locations on said pivoting means to selectively pivot said latchmeans.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said pivoting meanscomprises spring biased catch means.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14wherein said pivoting means comprises a spring means biasing said latchmeans toward one of said positions, drive means extending from saidlatch means to move said latch means responsive to force applied fromsaid actuator means, first spring biased catch means to retain saiddrive means and said latch means in one of said positions and secondspring biased catch means to retain said drive means and said latchmeans in the other of said positions, each of said catch means beingrespectively operable to release said drive means responsive to adiscrete force applied by said actuator means while the other of saidcatch means operates to retain said drive means.
 17. The apparatus ofclaim 16 wherein said actuator means comprises two respectively operatedcylinder means.
 18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said actuatormeans is shiftable to apply force respectively to each of said catchmeans.
 19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said pivoting meanscomprises rotatable cam means connected to said latch means and indexedfrom one position in which said latch means is in said vertical positionand another position in which said latch means is in said horizontalposition, and means to index said cam means between said cam positions,said indexing means being actuated by said actuator means.
 20. Verticalwell pipe racking apparatus having a finger board with horizontallydisposed fingers spaced apart to accommodate well pipe racked verticallybetween the fingers, a racker head means for supporting a pipe andguiding the pipe to an appropriate space between the racker fingers, anda pipe retaining latch means mounted in pivotal relation to each of thefingers and movable between a vertical position leaving the space clearbetween the fingers and a horizontal position extending laterallybetween the fingers to retain said pipe between said fingers andadjacent said latch means when so extended, the improvement comprising:mechanically actuated pivoting means associated with each said latchmeans to selectively pivot said latch means through a cycle between saidvertical position and said horizontal position responsive to discreteapplications of external mechanical force, and hydraulic actuator meansmounted with said racker head to apply discrete mechanical forces tosaid pivoting means to selectively pivot said latch means.
 21. Theapparatus of claim 20 wherein said pivoting means comprises springbiased catch means.
 22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said actuatormeans is actuated by fluid pressure applied through valve means.
 23. Theapparatus of claim 22 wherein said pivoting means comprises a springmeans biasing said latch means toward one of said positions, drive meansextending from said latch means to move said latch means responsive toforce applied from said actuator means, first spring biased catch meansto retain said drive means and said latch means in one of said positionsand second spring biased catch means to retain said drive means and saidlatch means in the other of said positions each of said catch meansbeing respectively operable to release said drive means responsive to adiscrete force applied to said actuator means while the other of saidcatch means operates to retain said drive meAns.
 24. The apparatus ofclaim 23 wherein said actuator means comprises two respectively operatedcylinder means.
 25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said actuatormeans is shiftable to apply force respectively to each of said catchmeans.
 26. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said pivoting meanscomprises rotatable cam means connected to said latch means and indexedfrom one position in which said latch means is in said vertical positionand another position in which said latch means is in said horizontalposition, and means to index said cam means between said cam positions,said indexing means being actuated by said actuator means.